Material forming apparatus



Nov. 24, 1931. J. F. PULLAN MATERIAL FORMING APPARATUS Filed Feb. '7,1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l llll I I I fire/7f Nov. 24, 1931. J. F. PULLAN1,333,653

MATERIAL FORMING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 7. 1930 s Sheets-Sheet 2 J. F.PULLAN Nov. 24, 1931.

MATERIAL FORMING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 7, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 PatentedNov. 24, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CORPORATION OF NEW YORK JAMESF. PULLAN, OF PAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS,'IO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF

new Yon-x, n. Y., A

MATERIAL FORMING APPARATUS Application filed February 7, 1930. SerialNo. 426,600.

This invention relates to improvements in I material forming apparatus,and more particularly to improvements in apparatus employing rotatingrolls for forming article s.

The principal object of this invention-1s the provision of an improvedmaterial forming apparatus which permits the rapid yet accurateadjustment of the forming elements tomake possible its use on articlesof varying dimensions.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention a supporting frameis provided which comprises vertically disposed fixed and movablemembers upon which forming rolls are journaled, the members beinginterconnectedby a horizontal stationary base member provided withguidewaysupon which the movable member is 'slidable in a directionparallel to the longitudinal axes of the rolls.

' J ournaled at one end upon the base member and threadedly engaging anut carried by the movable member is a screw threaded member providedwith a hand wheel for rotating the same and thereby varying the reapparatus, partly in section, embodying the 7 features of thislIlVelltlOIl';

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical detail section taken on the line 3 3 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 1 is an enlarged detail section taken on the line 4-4; of 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary View of one of the forming rolls taken on theline 55 of Fig. 3;

' Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line 66 of Fig..2;

Fig. 7 is an enlargedfragmentary detail section taken on the line 7-7 ofFig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a blank previous to the formingoperation, and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of an article which has been formed by theimproved apparatus.

Referring now to the drawings in detail in which like reference numeralsindicate similar parts, particularly Figs. 1 and 2, wherein there isillustrated fragment arily an apparatus for forming articles from metalblanks having a supporting frame indicated generally by the numeral 15.The frame comprises a horizontal stationary base member 16, shownfragmentarily, which in turn may be mounted on a suitable bench (notshown). Formed upon the upper portion of the base member 16 at the rightend and at opposite sides thereof, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2,respectively, are guideways 17 upon which are mounted a pair of spacedvertical side frame members 20 and 21, each formed with oppositelydisposed depending portions 22, with their lower surfaces substantiallyfiush with similar surfaces of the spaced guideways 17. The frame member20 is fixed to the base member 16 at the left end of the guideway 17(Fig. 1) by plates 23 carried by each of the depending portions 22thereof and clamped against the lower surfaces of the guidcways 17 bybolts 24. Means is provided for moving the frame member 21 along theguideways 17 to vary the space between opposed inner vertical surfacesof the frame members 20 and 21 for permitting forming rolls, which aredesignated generally in the drawings by the reference numerals 27 and 28(Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 6), to be presently described, which may be ofvarious lengths, for forming articles of different dimensions to bemounted, exchanged and adjusted in cooperating relationship upon theframe 15, together with suitable shaft-s for carrying the rolls to bedescribed hereinafter.

Extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axes of the rollshafts and arranged intermediate and below the guideways 17 of the basemember 16 is a rotatable screw threaded shaft 31. The shaft 81 isjournaled at its right end (Fig. 1) in a bearing 34 integral with thebase member 16 and is supported at a point adjacent its left end by being threaded into a nut fixed to the lower surface of the movable framemember 21 by screws 36. Secured to the right end of the shaft 31 whichextends through the bearing 34 is a hand wheel. 37 provided with a hubportion 38, theinner end surfaces of which abut anopposed surface of thebearing, It will be apparent that when the, movable frame member'21 isfree to be movedupon the guideways 1'? that a movement thereof may beefiected, either to increase ordecrease the space between the framemembers 20 and 21 by merely rotating the shaft 31 in one direction orthe other by means of the hand wheel 37. Since the shaft 31 is threadedinto the nut 35 and the latter is fixed to the horizontally movableframe member 21 it will be obvious that the frame member will movehorizontally when the shaft 31 is rotated. After an adjustment of themovable frame member 21 with respect to the fixed frame member 20,plates 41 similar to the clamp plates 23 previously described inconnection with the frame member 20 are clamped against the lowersurfaces of the guideways 17, by hand screws l2 (Figs. land 2) threadedinto depending portions 43 integral with the frame member 21, theportions 43 being arranged similar to the portions 22 of the framemenrber '20. The plates 41 are each supported parallel with the undersurface of the guideways 17 when not clamped thereagainst by bolts 4extending locsely'through the plate at points equally spacedfrom thehand screw and fitted into the depending portions 43 of the frame member21, the nuts threaded upon the bolts being spaced sufficiently from thelower surface of the plate when the latter is clamped to permitadownward movement thereof when released by the hand screw 42.

As shown in Fig.1 the upper portionof each of the frame members 20 and21 tapers to form a substantially? right angle portion, side edges 45and l6 of which are disposed at an angle of 45 to the horizontal.Extending inwardly from the side edge-l5 and at right an les thereto isarectangular slot 48 within which is mounted the journals for theformingroll 28, the journals for the roll 2? being mounted in apertures49 (Fig. 6) provided in each of the frame members, as will behereinafter described.

e forming roll 27 comprises a plurality of individual annularsections50, 51, 52, and

' 53'which are keyed or otherwise removably secured to the right end ofa horizontally disposed shaft 57 (F 6). Disposed between theseindividual roll sections and also keyed to the shaft 57 are plurality ofdisks 58,

8 each of which is rovided with a oluralit" P l .l

of equidistantly spaced peripheral teeth or projections 59 (Fig. 3)extending beyond the peripheral surface of the forming roll 27. Bymeansof a sleeve 60 fitted upon the right tates in the journal66, due

end of the shaft 57 and abutting at its inner end the roll section 53and a nut 63 threaded upon a reduced end of the outer end o-f-the shaft,the and the toothed disks 58 interposed therebetween are rigidly clampedtogether between a flange 65 formed upon the shaft intermediate itsends. o

The shaft 57 at its right endwith the sleeve 60 is rotatably'supportedin'a journal 66 fixed in the aperture 49 in ;the frame member 21, theinner end of the journal abutting the roll section 53. Fitted upon theleft end of the shaft 57 is a sleeve 6'? provided with a flange 69 atits inner end which abuts the flange 65 of the shaft. The shaft 57- atits left end with the sleeve 67 is rotatably supported in a journal 70fixed in the aperture 49 in "the frame member 20. Formed in the 'leftendof the shaft 57fand extending across the diameter thereof is a slot 72which receives a tongue 7 3 formed upon the inner end of a continuingsliaft'f l coaxially arranged with the shaft 57, the shaft 74 beingdriven from any suitable source of power (not shown) through anintermediate gear reduction unit indicated generally by the numeral 77(Fig. 1) connected to its outer end. V-Theunit 7? includes a worm78,'fir;ed to a shaft 79 connected to the source of power, meshing witha worm wheel 80 fixed to the continuing shaft 74. The shaft 79atitsforward end (Fig. 1) has attached thereto a hand wheel 81 wherebythe rolls 27 and 28 may be conveniently rotated by hand when foundnecessary for inspection of the rolls or of work being performed, or forother reasons. A key-83 secures the sleeve 67 to the continuing shaft74; so that the sleeve rotates in the journal- '70 and likewise thesleeve 60 at the rightend of the shaft 5'? roto it being clamped betweenthe nut 63 and the roll section 53. 1

The forming roll 28 comprises a plurality of individual annular sections86, 87, 88 and (Fig. 6), which are in alignment with the annularsections 50, 51, 52 and 53, respectively, of the roll 27. The individualsections of the roll28 are separated by annular spacing disks 90 whichare of lesser diameter than the roll secti'cns, thus providing annularspaces 93 for accommodating the peripheral -projec tions [9 of thespacingdisksi58 of the roll 2.

The sections 83V to 89, inclusive, of the roll 28' and the spacing disks90 are keyed tea horizontally disposed shaft 94 (Fig. 6) and are rigidlyclamped together by means of a sleeve 95 and a nut 96 arranged upon theshaft and a flange 97 formed upon the shaft intermediate its ends in amanner similar to that described in connection with the individualsections of the roll 27. At its left end the shaft 94 is fitted with asleeve 100' having a flange 103 which abuts the flange 9'? of the shaft.

At each end of the'shaft 94: the sleeves 95 individual sections of theroll 27 and 100 are rotatably supported in journals 104 removablymounted in the slots 48 of the frame'members 21 and 20. Each of thejournals 104 rests upon a pair of compression springs 106 mounted withinsuitable apertures formed in the bottom of the slots 48. Pressure plates107 of a cross section similar to the journals 104 abut the upper end ofthe journals within the slots 48.

fixed supporting plate 108 (Fig. 2) extends across each of the slots 48of the frame members and 21 and threadedthrough an aperture provided ineach of the plates is a screw 109 with its inner end engaging thepressure plate 107. Secured for rotation with. the screw 109 andslidable longitudinally thereof by means of a spline connection (notshown)'- is a ring 113 provided with micrometer indications 114, astationary index 115 being formed upon the plate 108. By turning thescrews 109 in one direction or the other it will be apparent that theroll 28 may be'resiliently held in cooperating relationship with thecompanion roll 27 and due to the micrometer indications and thestationary index associated with each of the screws a more accurateadjustment of the roll 28 with the roll 27 may beeffected. After adesired adjustment is completed a lock nut 116 threaded onto each of thescrews 109 is turned down to clamp the splined ring 113 against thestationary plate 108.

The shaft 94 at its left end like the shaft I .57 is provided with aslot 72 which receives a tongue '7 3 formed upon the right end of acontinuing shaft 117 coaxially arranged with the shaft 94, the shaft 117being keyed to the sleeve 100 as indicated at 118. The'rolls 27 and'28are driven at the same speed in the direction of the arrows (Fig. 3)through the source of power, previously referred to, connected to theshaft 74 whichis operatively connected to the roll 27 and gearinginterconnecting the shafts 7 4 and 117. Keyed to the sleeve 67 is a gear119 and similarly secured to the sleeve 100 is a gear 120 (Figs. 2 and6). Roller thrust bearings 121 are arranged upon the sleeves 67 and 100toreduce outer ends of the sleeves friction between the stationaryjournals 70 and 104 and the rotary gears 119 and 120, respectively,atone side of the frame member 20 and'at the opposite side thereofbetween the'journals 70 and 104 and the sleeves 67 and 100,respectively. Threaded onto the 67 and100 are lock collars 122 whichserve to hold the gears 119 and 120 from moving longitudinally upon thesleeves.

I Meshing with the gear 119 is a pinion 123 which mesheswith similarpinion 124, which i in turn meshes with the gear 120. The'pinion 123 isrotatably carried upon a stud shaft 127 fixed to the frame member 20 andthe pinion 124 is rotatably carried upon a stud shaft 128 fixed to abracket 129, the bracket being pivotally supported upon the stud shaft127. A worm gear 130 secured to a shaft 131 j ournaled upon the framemember 20 meshes with a gear sector 132 formed upon the periphery of thebracket 129. By turning the shaft 131 by means of a hexagonal upper endthe worm 130 meshing with the sector 132 rotates the bracket 129 aboutthe shaft 127 and thus the position of the pinion 124 with respect tothe gear 120 may be varied to cause an accurate meshing of the teeththereof after an adjustment of the micrometer screw 109 to bring theroll 28 into correct cooperating relationship with the roll 27. After anadjustment of the bracket 129 a clamping screw 135 threaded into theframe 20 and extending through an arcuate slot 136 formed in the bracket129 is clamped into engagement with the bracket to retain it in itsadjusted position.

Arranged above the roll 27 is a substantially vertical magazine 137which is removably supported by means of brackets 138 and 139 to thevertical frame members 20 and 21, respectively. The magazine 137comprises a pair of spaced vertical side members 142 and 143interconnected by lower horizontal cross members 144 and 145 (Figs. 1and 3), other cross members being provided at the top (not shown).Obviously, the particular construction of the magazine 137 will dependupon the shape or type of blank to be formed and in the presentdisclosure the magazine is designed to contain a plurality of contactspring blanks 146 of the type shown in Fig. 8, used in the manufactureof telephonic devices. The blanks are positioned in the magazine 137 ina vertical column as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Vertical grooves 147 and148 formed in the inner sides of the vertical. mem bers 142 and 143serve to guide the blanks 146 as they gravitate towards the bottom ordischarge end of the magazine. The lowermost blank 146 in the magazine137 rests upon the upper surface of an arcuate portion 149 integralwith. the lower cross mem ber' 144 of the magazine, as shown in Figs. 3and 7 and disposed in close proximity to the peripheral surface of theroll 27 and extending towards the roll 28. The upper surface of theportion 149 which is predeterminedly spaced from lower end surfaces 150(Fig. 7) of the magazine side members 142 and 143 serves as a bottom forthe magazine, the lowermost blank of the column of blanks 146 restingthereon, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The lower spaced end surfaces 150of the members 142 and 143 cooperating with the upper surface of thearcuate portion 149 of the cross member 144 provides a discharge passage151 in the magazine 137 for the blanks 146 as they are successivelyadvanced therefrom by the peripheral teeth 59 of the rotating disks 58in the operation of the ap paratus, the depth of the passage 151 beingsuch that only one blank at a time may be advanced from the magazine137'. The cross sition wherein they are engaged between the formingrolls 27' and 28, the roll 27 with the disks 58 freely moving throughthe conduit 154. The portions 149 and 152 of the members 144 and 145,respectively, are each provided with a plurality of spaced slots orpassages 157 (Figs. 1 and 3) through which the peripheral teeth 59 ofthe disks 58 pass during the rotationthereof. The portion 152 of thecross member145 is provided with depending side portions 158, one ofwhich is shown in Fig. 7 which are spaced apart just sufiiciently toaccommodate a blank positioned lengthwise therebetween, the oppositeside portion being indicated in Fig. 3.

. the frame member The magazine bracket 139 is mounted upon 20 in such amanner that a three way movement thereof may be effected by rotatingmicrometer adjustable screws 159, 160 and. 161 (Figs. '1 and 2). Thispermits an accurate adjustment of the location of the magazine 137 withrespect to the rolls 27 and 28, which is very essential to the properfeeding of the blanks 146 to the rolls for forming. Hand screws 165, 166and 167 are associated with the screws 159, 160 and 161, respectively,for clamping the latter after the proper adjustment of the magazine137-. A detailed description and illustration of the structure whichpermits this three way movement of the bracket 139 and thereby themagazine clamped thereto is not included, since it forms no part of thisinvention and is not considered necessary to a complete understandingthereof.

To insure that the blanks 146 after being formed between the rolls 27and 28 will not adhere to the roll27 and to be carried thereby betweenthe forming rolls a second time astripper device is arranged between theframe members 20 and 21. The stripper device comprises a rod 168adjustably fixed atone end to the fixed frame member 29, its oppositeend extending through an aperture in the movable frame member 21 andfreely removable therefrom. when it is being adjusted as hereinbeforedescribed when mounting or removing rolls. Individually adjustable in aplurality of directionsupon the rod 168 between the frame members 20 and21 and extending towards and lying close to the peripheryof'each of theroll sections 51, 52 and 53 are stripper fingers 169. The upper surfaceofthe fingers 169 which shaped to substantially lie close to theperiphery of eachof the roll sections 51, 52 and 53 are shaped tosubstantially conform to the curvature thereof and terminate at theirextreme inner ends in a sharp edge, as clearly shown in dotted linesinFig. 2. In the operation of the apparatus if a formedarticle adheresto the roll 27 and is carried thereby into engagement with the sharpedges of the fingers 169 the formed article will bestripped from theroll and dropped into a removable receptacle (not shown) suitablypositioned therebelow. The rod 168 extends from the outer side surfaceof the movable frame member-21 for a distance to provide for the extrememovement of the frame 21 in the mounting of the largest roll. 3

The rolls for each particular'article are developed to suit theindividual forming characteristics of the article. In the forming ofarticles of the type illustrated in the drawings, refering particularlyto Fig. 9

which illustrates a formedartiele 17 2 having a V-shaped formation orcrimp 173 formed at one end, it will be apparent'that this portion ofthe article cannot be supported from lateral twisting or otherdistortion by the peripheral teeth 59 of the disks 58 during theformingthereof.

It is, therefore, necessary to mount auxiliary spring pressed inserts offingers 174 (Figs, 3, 4 and 5) in the roll section 50 where this crimp173 is formed to overcome the tendency of the article to twist.Referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 4 the roll section 50 is providedon its inner side face abutting the disk 58 with a p'lurality'of equallyspaced slots or guideways 175, each carrying a'reciproca-bly mountedfinger 174 normally urged outwardly by a compression spring 176; Asclearly shown in Figs. 3 and 5 the forward sides of the fingers 174 andthe teeth 59 which engage the edge of the blank' 146 are in line. Theinner end of the spring 176 is positioned in an annular channel 177formed in a ring 178 fitted in the roll section 50. To facilitate theassembly of the different sections of the roll 27 a'retaining ring 181is provided which embraces all of the fingers 174 and is entered in anelongated slot 182 provided therein, the slot permitting thereciprocable movement of the finger during the operation of theapparatus. The outer end surfaces of the fingers 174 are conform to theperipheral forming surface of the roll section 50 and during the formingof the crimp 173 of the article 172 the fingers 174 recede sufficientlyto permit the complementary surfaces of'the rolls 27 and 28 to form thecrimp and also support the end of the article against lateral twistingor other distortion during the forming of the crimp.

It is believed that the operation of the apparatus embodying the novelfeatures of this invention will be clearly understood from thefollowingbrief description. In setting up the apparatus for a particular articleto be formed a set of rolls 27 and 28, each of which is a unit alreadyassembled for the particular article isselected. Referring to the roll27as an example, the roll unit includes the shaft 57, the sleeve 60, nut63, and the roll sections to 53, inclusive, with the other cooperatingparts between the sections. The roll units are mounted in'the frames 20and 21 in operative association with the tongues 73 of the drivingshafts 74: and 117. In mounting the rolls 27 and 28 it is of courseunderstood that the movable frame member 21 has first been movedoutwardly upon the guideways 17 of the base member 16 by the rotation ofthe hand wheel 37 in the manner previously described a distancesufiicient to operatively engage the shafts 57 and 94 with the shafts 71 and 117, respectively. Thereafter the movable frame member 21 is movedinwardly by a rotation of the hand wheel 37 until the roll units areproperly mounted therebetween. The frame member 21 is then clamped tothe base member 16 by the hand screw 42, in a manner previouslydescribed.

A magazine 137 adapted to carry a supply of blanks 146 of the'particulararticle to be formed is then mounted between the frame members 20 and 21by being first attached to the bracket 139 and adjusted as hereinbeforedescribed to properly locate the lower end of the magazine with respectto the forming roll 27 and thereafter is attached at its opposite sideto the bracket 138 carried by the movable frame member21. A supply ofblanks 146 are placed in the magazine 137 and the forming rolls 27 and28 are rotated in the direction indicated by the arrows (Figs. 2' and 3)in the manner hereinbefore described. The teeth 59 of the rotating disks58 successively engage individual blanks 1 16 as they gravitate to thebottom of themagazine and advance them through the guide channel 154:and between the peripheral surfaces of the forming rolls by which theyare formed into articles 172 of the desired predetermined shape.

Although the invention has been herein illustrated and described inconnection with one embodiment thereof as applied to a particularmaterial forming apparatus, it is to be understood that the novelfeatures thereof are capable of various other applications, limited onlyby the spirit and .scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an article forming apparatus, a plurality of driven shafts eachhaving fixed thereto a roll to form an individual unitary assemblage,the rolls having cooperating peripheral forming surfaces, means forsupporting the shaft/and roll assemblages in cooperati ng relationship,comprising oppositely disposed fixed and movable members upon whichopposite ends of the shafts are journaled, means upon which the movablemember is slidable in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axes ofthe rolls. means for driving the shaft and roll assemblages including achain of gears journaled upon the fixed member, a plurality of shaftsoperatively connected to the chain of gears and axially aligned with theroll shafts, the adjacent end surfaces of each of the aligned shaftscooperating to form a positive driving connection therebetween, andmeans operatively connected to the movable member for varying therelation between the members.

2. In an article forming apparatus, a plurality of rolls havingcooperating peripheral forming surfaces, means upon which the oppositeends of the rolls are journaled, comprising fixed and movable members,means upon which the movable member is slidable in a direction parallelto the longitudinal axes of the rolls, means including a micrometerdevice for laterally adjusting one of the rolls with respect to theother upon the members to vary the cooperating relationship of theperipheral forming surfaces of the rolls, and means operativelyconnected to the movable member for varying the relation between themembers.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this third day ofFebruary A. D.

JAMES F. PULLAN.

